A Sustainable, Child-Focused Courthouse

This signature building in downtown Miami combines juvenile and family courts in a non-traditional, welcoming courthouse environment.

Designed to minimize stress for children and families, the 14-story building houses 18 courtrooms and many of the agencies involved with juvenile justice, making it easy for families to access all of the services they need.

Miami-Dade County wanted to create a healthy environment for children and achieve goals for environmental responsibility. The building’s east-west orientation minimizes solar heat gain while offering spectacular views to Biscayne Bay and the surrounding city.

A perforated, tilted pre-cast concrete screen wall to the south provides shading for the building. The variation of multi-colored windows produces an ever-changing daylight experience in the public waiting areas of each floor. At night, light from the interior creates a random pattern of primary colors across this south-facing “confetti wall.”

The bright, spacious interior space embodies the values of the county justice system, communicating that the city values its children and families. Naturally lit corridors and public areas feature public art, including bronze sculptures of Florida bears in the lobby and four large-scale murals and tile installations featuring portraits created by public school students.